FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Wayne Gandy knew it was bad the moment the training staff helped him on the back of a cart at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn. The veteran tackle had a torn anterior cruciate ligament. There'd be no more football for him in 2007.
Perhaps no more football at all.
That changed Wednesday when the Falcons re-signed him.
"It's a great opportunity for me not to end my career on that cart," said Gandy, who was released by Atlanta in the off-season. "After playing so long any veteran will tell you that you want to be able to take your jersey off and say: 'You know what? I'm done.' You don't want to be driven off on a cart. That was really all the motivation I needed to keep trying and stay positive that someone would call that needed me and pick me up."
The Birds brought Gandy back after starting left tackle Sam Baker (hip) was ruled out of Sunday's game at Oakland. Gandy stayed in Atlanta during his rehab and followed the Falcons through a coaching change and a surprising start.
His number (now 68) isn't the only thing different these days.
"I kept contact with Lawyer [Milloy], Todd McClure and those guys," he said "They told me last year's stuff was swept under the rug. It was a fresh, new environment. People were positive. I think it shows in their play. We're 4-3 now. Even the losses were very competitive games. You can tell it's a new spirit around here."
Gandy played for offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey in Pittsburgh earlier in his career and estimates he knows "about a third" of the team's offensive approach. He thinks he can catch up on the rest in about a week.
Today he's just happy to have an NFL home.
"I'm glad to be back," he said. "It's been a long journey with the ACL. Like any football season somebody at some point needs someone to come in and fill-in for a couple plays. Hopefully after a few practices I can get my wind back and whatever the coaches need I can provide."
LIFE WITHOUT SAM: Until Baker is cleared to play the team must make adjustments. Head Coach Mike Smith said multiple times over the past two days that veteran Todd Weiner is next in line at the position.
Weiner replaced Baker at Tampa Bay and Philadelphia and started two games in his absence.
Last week Weiner aggravated a knee injury and was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka, a three-year veteran that made seven starts in 2007. There's also the addition of Gandy to give the Falcons some depth at the position. But losing Baker from the locker room won't be easy.
"When you don't hear an offensive lineman's name called you know he's doing his job," McClure said. "Sam has been doing very well this year. Hopefully the injury won't keep him down long and we can get him back as soon as possible."
Smith expressed confidence in his offensive line Wednesday afternoon but acknowledged the impact of Bakers absence. The team is 4-0 and almost unstoppable against the run when the rookie plays an entire game
“Well, anytime that you are going to miss a player it’s tough," Smith said. "This time of the season, there are a lot of teams that are not playing at full strength. We will have our guys that are playing in the backup roles increase their role. We always talk about it as a team that one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. It is going to be an opportunity for someone to step up and play.”
Baker will undergo surgery on Thursday. He met with specialists who determined a connection between hip pain and the back. Smith described the procedure as "minor" but couldn't give a timeline for his return.
INJURY REPORT: Defensive end Jamaal Anderson suffered a concussion Sunday at Philadelphia soon after recording the second sack of his career. He was one of three Falcons players that did not practice on Wednesday but he expects to be back on the field soon.
"I'll probably be out there tomorrow," he said. "They just want to make sure I relax. I think I'll be out there tomorrow. They're just letting things calm down and letting me rest right now. I'm feeling a lot better."
Weiner (knee) also missed practice but Smith expects him to get better as the week progresses.
“Todd got rolled up in the game and we anticipate he will be ready to go," Smith said. "Todd is a tough guy. He has two starts for us already.”
Several players were limited in practice. For more information, visit the Saint Joseph's Injury Report.
SCHOOL DAYS: Kicker Jason Elam once navigated the neighborhoods around R.D. Head Elementary School on his bike. Tuesday he visited the school via limousine. The Atlanta-area native and Falcons kicker accompanied second-grader Gunnar Samuelson to school Tuesday as part of the NFL's Take a Player to School program.
Elam was among 34 players selected to participate in the program that rewards elementary students with a visit from their favorite NFL players. Elam led kids in fitness activities as part of NFL’s PLAY 60 campaign, helping youth get 60 minutes of exercise a day. Samuelson won the visit by entering a sweepstakes at J.C. Penny.
"It was wonderful," added Elam. "The kids were great. Getting a chance to meet Gunnar was awesome. Just to see Gunnar's face when we walked in, I know he was probably looking forward to this. When I was his age if something like this happened to me I wouldn't have slept the night before... I'm just glad as a player I can do things that really mean something to the community and hopefully inspire the kids and Gunnar, too."
RELATED LINKS:
- NOTEBOOK: Veteran Gandy happy to be back in Falcons locker room
- TRANSCRIPT: Head Coach Mike Smith | Video
- SAM BAKER: Baker to undergo "minor surgery" on hip, back
- VIDEO: Matt Ryan | Michael Turner | Grady Jackson | Todd McClure | Wayne Gandy
- INJURY REPORT: Raiders and Falcons injury news from Saint Joseph's Hospital
- FROM THE TRAINING ROOM: Team doctors discuss common injuries
- COMMUNITY: Elam joins second-grade student at school
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: Baker will not travel to Oakland | Birdseed
